A cardiological scoring scheme for standardisation of cardiac examination in horses

A cardiological scoring scheme for standardisation of cardiac examination in horses Heart murmurs are very common clinical finding in routine and prepurchase examinations. The influence of heart murmurs on the horse's performance is yet unclear. For this reason a special grading scheme for horses suffering from cardiovascular disease was developed. Taking all of these findings into account a good grading of the stage of cardiovascular disease was possible. History, clinical and electrocardiographic examinations an'd important B-and M-mode echocardiographic parameters were scored. This study shows that auscultation and B-mode echocardiography represent the best methods for grading cardiac disease. 58 horses were examined and graded into four groups: low, moderate, severe, very severe heart disease. Most of the horses examined were graded as suffering from moderate to severe cardiac disease. The special value of this model is simplification of echocardiographic examination and therefore shorter examination periods in combination with an accurate diagnosis. Further examinations with doppler, colour flow doppler mapping and heart catheterization for detailed diagnosis of the various kinds of valvular diseases should be done where neccessary and possible but is not discussed here.